Discharging means for solid granular materials



Aug. 9, 1955 u. B. YEAGER 2,715,047

DISCHARGING MEANS FOR SOLID GRANULAR MATERIALS Filed Dec. 6, 1951 INVENTOR. ULYSSES B. YEAGER BY DES JARDINS, ROBINSON & KEISER HIS ,ATTCBRNEYS United States Patent DISCHARGING MEANS FOR SOLID GRANULAR MATERIALS Ulysses B. Yeager, Huntington, W. Va. Application December 6, 1951, Serial No. 260,246 2 Claims. (Cl. 302-29) This invention relates to discharging means for solid granular materials, and it more particularly pertains to a discharge hopper, such as a bottom opening railway hopper car, having an inclined bottom wall or walls pro vided with means for separating the granular material into discrete particles for free flow from said hopper without compacting and conglomerating into clogging mass chunks.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to wet granular material with water or steam to facilitate its flow in being discharged from the hopper, but with any liquid there is I presented the problem of drainage inasmuch as the water congeals in freezing weather. Furthermore, while water or steam may be satisfactorily used for unloading the hoppers in freezing weather, the granular material is wetted down and will become frozen in the bunkers or storage bins, thereby necessitating reheating or breaking it up for further handling for removal from the bunkers or storage bins. While antifreeze chemicals often may be added to the liquid, they are expensive, affect the granular material, and erode the equipment besides presenting other problems. Moreover, it is desirable in many instances to dry the granular material, rather than to wet it, or at least to regulate its moisture content, and this cannot be done when a liquid, such as water or steam, is used for facilitating flow. Therefore, it is desired to provide means adapted for a wider selection of the flow facilitating means, and one which does not require the use of antifreeze chemicals.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide means associated with a hopper discharge which permits the use of either water, steam or air.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fluid supply means which is simple in construction and operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fluid supply means which is so disposed for self-cleaning and drainage, if the fluid used is a liquid.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fluid supply means which distributes the fluid over the bottom of the hopper.

Further objects, and objects relating to details of construction and economies of operation, will readily appear from the detailed description to follow.

In one instance, I have accomplished the objects of my invention by the device and means set forth in the following specification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a conventional railway hopper car with a portion broken away to show the discharging device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on lines 22 of Fig. 1.

The invention generally described comprises a plurality of branch conduits disposed lengthwise of and adjacent to the sloped or inclined bottom wall or walls of the hopper from a common supply conduit communicating with each of said branch conduits. The branch conduits are in spaced-apart relation, with lateral side openings, also spaced-apart at intervals, for permitting the fluid to be discharged laterally over the sloped or inclined bottom wall portions of the hopper. If the hopper is provided with two or more sloped or inclined bottom portions, the fluid distributing device is associated with each sloped or inclined bottom portion. The bottom ends of the branch conduits may be left open or closed with a removable plug. Accordingly, when granular material is to be discharged from the hopper, all that is necessary to do, is to fit a water, steam, or air hose to either end of the common supply conduit, and the fluid distributing device may be selectively used for any fluid. Drainage is effectively provided for if the fluid used be a liquid.

In warm weather or whenever it is desired to wet the granular material for laying the dust, water or steam may be used. In fact, the air may be heated in order to further dry the granular material or to regulate its moisture content. The fluid supply hose may be attached to either end of the common supply conduit, its opposite end, if desired, being closed by any suitable closure.

The bottom ends of the branch conduits may be left open or may be provided with a removable plug for clearing out any sediment that may collect therein. Even when the bottom ends are closed, the lateral openings in the side of the branch conduits will permit draining of substantailly all liquid fluid contained therein, and at least one of the lateral openings will be adjacent the bottom end of each branch conduit. The common supply conduit is connected to the branch conduits at their one end at the top of the slope with the opposite: free ends of said branch conduits at the bottom of the slope.

Referring specifically to the drawing in which like numerals designate like parts, numeral 2 designates two opposite slopes or inclined bottom wall portions of a conventional railway hopper car 3, both of which are provided with a fluid distributing device of the novel structure disclosed.

The fluid distributing device comprises a transverse common supply head conduit 4 disposed adjacent the top or highest portion of the slope or inclined portion. Extending from this supply head conduit lengthwise of the sloped portion are a plurality of branch conduits 5 spaced apart in parallel relation. The two outer or marginal branch conduits are preferably spaced somewhat inwardly from the vertical sidewalls 6 of the car.

Lateral openings 7 are formed through each of the branch conduits 5, on opposite sides thereof, at spaced intervals along their length so that the fluid will be ejected therefrom laterally over the inclined bottom wall portion. The branch conduit and the lateral openings therethrough will be sufficient in number so that the fluid will be ejected over the entire surface of the sloped or inclined bottom wall. The bottom ends of the branch conduits may be left open or closed by removable plugs 8. The sloped or inclined branch conduits will drain any liquid contained therein or in the head conduit, and, if their bottom ends are closed, the plugs 8 can be re moved from time to time to permit drainage of any small amount of liquid or solid matter collecting near the closed ends. However, with at least one of the lateral openings disposed near the bottom ends, such openings will permit the unit being cleaned and drained at all times of all sediment or liquid that otherwise might collect there.

The device lends itself to the selected use of water, steam, or air, as may be desired, for unloading the granular material. No drainage problem is presented with the use of air, but the inclination of the branch conduit on the bottom wall will prevent any accumulation of water therein. It is often desired to dry the granular material before it is discharged into the bunkers or storage bins, and this may be. easily done with the use of air, more particularly if it be heated.

With a discharge hopper equipped with the above described distributing device, all that is necessary is to attach a supply air, Water or steam hose to either end of the common head conduit, the opposite end of said head conduit being closed by any suitable plug. if it is desired to close same.

The. device is adapted for effecting the free flow of any granular or shredded material, such as coal, gravel, sand, grain, lignite, sawdust, pulp and the like. Some of. the materials to be conveyed are inflammable and subject to spontaneous combustion and other fire hazards. In such event, fire extinguishing means, such as carbon dioxide, can be fed with facility through the discharging means to the bottom and throughout the interior of the mass contents. While this is not the primary purpose of the fluid distributing means, it is one of importance, especially, as. the means is so constructed to discharge the fire extinguishing means in an enveloping film around the bottom and sides of the mass contents.

I am aware that there may be various changes in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with the inclined wall of a discharge hopper, a fluid distributing device comprising a common head conduit disposed along the top of the inclined wall of the hopper, a readily detachable closure plug fitted to each of the opposite ends of the common head conduit for permitting any fiuid supply connection to be selectively fitted to either end thereof, and a plurality of branch lateral. conduits disposed in spaced apart relation at intervals along the length of the common head conduit and leading therefrom to near the bottom of the inclined wall of said hopper, said branch conduits being provided with lateral openings lengthwise thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the hopper has opposite sidewalls and the fluid distributing device is connected therewith by having the opposite ends of its common head conduit extending through the opposite sidewalls of the hopper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

